The Wilmingtonian., 1887-07-02


The following poem won the first prize Of sion
in The Boston Pilot competition Its author is
Emma Frances Dawson. Of San Francisco II Is
in the old mud dificult French form OF verse
called chaut royal. There but few English
chant-royals, the making of them having been
called "a hard and thankless task Heretofore
only one poet has made Of this form Of verse.
In making the announcement to the author that
she had drawn the first prize, Mr.. John Boyle
OReilly said; Il congratulate you on having
added great poem TO the permanent literature
OF America. Among patriotic poems n will
rank forever with anything ever written" "old
Glory is a name given our flag by our soldiers
during the late war. This poem was inspired by
the following paragraph by George F. Hoar:
u have seen the glories Of art and architecture
and mountain and river; have seen the sunset
on Juugfrau, and the full moon rise over Mount
Blanc; hut the farest vision which these eyes
ever looked was the flag fmy country in foreign
land. Beautiful as flower to those who love II,
terrible meteor 10 those who hate II, II is the
symbol Of the power and glory and the honor OF
60ODD,OOO of Americans"
Enchanted web A picture in the air,
Drifted to us from out the distance blu
From shalowy ancestors, through whose braVs
care
We live in magic OF dream come true
With Covcnanters' blue, as IL were glassed
In dewy flower heart the stars that passed.
o blood veinrd blossom that can never blight!
The Declaration, like sacred rite,
Is in each star aud stripe decamatory,
The constitution thou shalt long recte
Our hallowcd. eloquent, beloved "old Glory"
o symphony in red, white, bluel-fenfare
Of trumpet. roll of drum, forever new
Reverberations of the bell, that bear
Its tones of Liberty the wide world through
In battle DREADED like a cyclone blast
Symbol of land and people unsurpassed.
Tiny brilliant day shall never have night.
On foreign shore no pomp so grand a sight.
No face so friendly, naught consolatory
Like glimpse Of lofty spar with thee bedight,
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "old Gloryw
Thou art the one flag; an embodied prayer,
One. highest aud most perfect to review;
without one, nothing; il is lineal square,
Has properties OF all the numbers too,
Cube. solid. square root, root OF root; best
classed
II for his essence the Creator cast.
For purity are thy six stripes of white,
This number circular and endless quite
Six times, well knows the scholar wan and hosry,
His compass spanning circle alight--
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "old Glory,"
Boldly thy seven lines OF scarlet flare;
As when DER old centurion ii blew
(Red is the trlmpet's tonel il means to darei
God favored seven when creation grew:
The seven planets; seven hues contrast;
The seven metals seven days; not last
The seven tones Of marvellous delight
That lend the listening soul their wings for
flight;
But why complete the happy category
That gives thy thirteen stripes their charm anu
might,
Our hallowed eloquent, beloved "old Glory"
In thy dear colors. honored everywhere.
The great and mystic ternion view:
Faith, Hope and Charity are numbered there.
And the three nails the Crufxion knew.
Three are offended when one has trespassed,
God, and ones neighbor and ones self aghast;
Chrst's deity and soul and manhood's height;
The Father. Son and Ghost may here unite
With texts like these, divnely monitorv.
What wonder that thou conquerest in fight.
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "Old Gloryl"
ENVOY.
o blessed Flag sign OF our precious Fast,
Triumphant Present and our Future vast,
Beyond starred blue aud bars of sunset bright
Lead us to higher realm Of Equal Right
Float on in ever lovely allegory.
Kin to the eagle and the wind and light
our hallowed, eloquent, beloved 'old Glory"